Film franchise

Stan Lee -- shown here in 2012 at the premiere of Marvel Studios’ ’The Avengers’ in Hollywood -- revolutionised pop culture with his universe of superheroes. — AFP PhotoViet Nam News LOS ANGELES — Marvel legend Stan Lee, who revolutionised pop culture as the co-creator of iconic superheroes like Spider-Man and The Hulk who now dominate the world’s movie screens, has died. He was 95 years old. Lee, the face of comic book culture in the United States, died early Monday in Los Angeles after suffering a number of illnesses in recent years. "With a heavy heart, we share our deepest condolences with his daughter and brother," said Marvel Comics and its owner The Walt Disney Company in a statement. "We honour and remember the creator, voice and champion of Marvel... Every time you open a Marvel comic, Stan will be there." The New Yorker, known for his distinctive tinted glasses and impish grin, ended up in the comics business by accident, thanks to an … [Read more...] about Stan Lee, Marvel legend and father of superheroes, dies at 95

The world premiere of ’Beautiful Days’, directed by Jero Yun (L) and starring South Korean actress Lee Na-young (R), will open the festival. — AFP Photo Viet Nam News BUSAN — Organisers of Asia’s largest film festival have issued a rallying cry to its supporters as the event emerges from years of starring in its own political drama. The Busan International Film Festival hopes to draw a line under its role in a bitter row over the sinking of the Sewol ferry – one of South Korea’s deadliest ever disasters – which divided and traumatised the nation. "This edition of the festival is a reunion," said Lee Yong-kwan, chairman of the BIFF organising committee. "This year is about our recovery and a return of our status. It’s about expansion and reformation." The festival opens on Thursday with the world premiere of South Korean director Jero Yun’s Beautiful Days, which focuses on a North Korean family reunited after the mother … [Read more...] about Busan film festival seeks ’reunion’ after ferry tragedy row

Viet Nam News LOS ANGELES — Solo: A Star Wars Story, the latest prequel in the hugely popular film franchise, struggled to achieve escape velocity this holiday weekend, with an estimated US$101 million four-day take falling far below expectations. Analysts had predicted the Disney/Lucasfilm project – directed by Ron Howard and with Alden Ehrenreich as a young version of the swashbuckling Han Solo – would reach $130 million to $150 million, possibly setting a Memorial Day weekend record. But the film, with a cast including Donald Glover, Woody Harrelson and Emilia Clarke, was falling short not only in North America, box office tracker Exhibitor Relations predicted, but also abroad. "The news is grim overseas," said Hollywood Reporter, saying the film was heading for barely half the $300 million global take many had predicted. Last weekend’s No 1 film, Deadpool 2 from 20th Century Fox and Marvel, took second spot this weekend, with a four-day estimate of … [Read more...] about ‘Solo: A Star Wars Story’ struggles to take off in opening weekend

According to computerized box-office figures from the Korean Film Council, the latest release from Marvel Studios logged about 7.76 million in accumulated ticket sales as of Saturday. An additional 276,252 people viewed the movie by 9 a.m. Sunday, bringing its cumulative total to 8.03 million, its local distributor Walt Disney Company Korea said. If the provisional tally is confirmed, "Infinity War" will become the fastest non-Korean film to achieve such a milestone in South Korea. The third installment of the superhero franchise opened in the country on April 25 and broke the 1 million mark on the second day of its run, 2 million on third day, 3 million on the fourth day, 4 million on the fifth day, 5 million on the sixth day, 6 million on the eighth day and 7 million on the 11th day. The movie brings together 23 heroes of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, including Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Captain America (Chris Evans), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and … [Read more...] about ‘Avengers 3’ becomes fastest foreign film to break 8 mln admissions in S. Korea

Ho Chi Minh City's cinemas were buzzing over the holiday weekend as people took of advantage of the break to chill out and catch a movie on April 30, Vietnam's Reunification Day. It was clear from the get go that there was no place for Vietnamese films at the theaters, with many people fighting for seats to watch foreign movies, including "Avengers: Infinity War." The film showcases an all-star cast of superheroes who join forces to save the universe from a supervillain alien. Tickets went on sale on April 20, and sold out in a flash. Social media was abuzz with people who had not seen the film warning others not to spoil the content. Memes about the movie characters spread like wildfire over the Southeast Asian nation’s cyberspace. The "Avengers"' triumph over Vietnamese films extended far beyond the hype it built among Vietnamese moviegoers, it also broke box office records. Out of the 50 screnings at CGV's Su Van Hanh Street theater in one day, 27 showed the "Avengers." In … [Read more...] about Vietnamese films hold no candle to foreign blockbusters despite home advantage